By Dr. Charity Robinson 

The winter holidays are exciting and fun for everyone to look forward to, but there are a few things everyone can do to be sure to stay safe and healthy.

It is important to have your home prepared for winter, especially before it turns frigid later this week.  Be sure your heat source is reliable, chimneys are checked and cleaned and furnaces are functioning well, and most importantly, be sure to have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in working order by checking monthly and replacing batteries every year.  These should be inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.

Your vehicle also needs to be prepared, including all-weather or snow tires, antifreeze, and a fuller gas tank to avoid ice accumulating in the tank and fuel lines.  Be sure to have a winter emergency kit in the vehicle in case you are stranded, including cell phone, charger, warm clothing, blankets, food and water, booster cables, flares, tire pump, and shovel.  If you are stranded, be sure to bundle up, call for assistance, clear the exhaust pipe, and turn the car and heat on for warmth 10 minutes of every hour.

If you are planning to travel, be aware of the forecast and road conditions.  When you are outdoors be properly dressed, including good footwear, added traction when in icy conditions, walk with a wide gait and arms extended for extra balance.  Avoid carrying anything heavy and keep hands free.

For winter sports, be sure to be dressed appropriately, keeping warm and protecting skin with waterproof clothing. If you are snowmobiling, skiing, snowboarding or sledding, be sure to wear proper helmets to avoid head injuries, and stay away from obstacles that can cause other body injury.

Protect your family from carbon monoxide by keeping grills, camp stoves, and generators out of the house, basement and garage.  CO poisoning symptoms include nausea, headache, dizziness, weakness, chest pain and confusion.  It just happens that these are also symptoms of the COVID and Influenza illnesses going around currently, but they are associated with other illness symptoms such as fever, body aches, cough, diarrhea.  To protect yourself and stay healthy for the holidays, stay home if you are sick, do not visit with others who are sick, and consider wearing a mask in large group settings, especially if you are not currently vaccinated.